Network Rail has made a planning application to extend the length of the platforms at Brockley Station, creating the capacity to accommodate longer trains from London Bridge.

When plans to reduce the frequency of trains from London Bridge outside the morning peak period were announced, Southern argued that in addition to the extra capacity created by the East London Line, crowding on the London Bridge service would be reduced by running longer trains along the route.

This would appear to be part of that plan, but perhaps the more expert train people on Brockley Central can fill us in.

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They should put a new ticket office in while they are at it. The current portakabin is pitifully small (could really do with doubling the amount of barriers at least) and moving it to platform level would make it far more accessible.

Hurah! Although a word of caution though, I I read over the weekend that the plans to spend a few quid buying new carriages across the network was being reviewed as traffic demand projections have been reviewed. Not surewhy that is a network rail funded and not southern. Still, better than nowt.

My train to London Bridge was canceled on Friday (typically), so I took the Overground service to Canada Water and changed. It was brill, the change there is very quick onto the Jubilee line. I'd argue that if you are heading into town, somewhere near a Jubilee Line station, that taking the overground is a quicker option than the London Bridge service - far less stressful too.

In addition to my recent 12 mins to the Wharf I got to Waterloo in about 15 mins on the weekend. ELL/Overground/Orange Surfer, whatever you prefer, it really is great.

I've noticed plenty of researchers collecting passenger numbers recently; presumably some of that data will feed into the assessment of requirements for the station and the only conclusion can be that it is far too small at present.

I suspect west side access will be the first thing to go in cost cutting.

A neighbour who complained in writing that they didn't open the electric gate for him has had confirmation that the gate can be used by all, not just pregnant or disabled persons.

Network rail/southern are looking into the possibility of a mantle road entrance - they have mentioned a number of possible sites subject to planning permission so it sounds like it is definately on the cards!

Because a longer platform can lead to longer train and thus greater capacity I guess, that's often a primary concern. Having said that by encouraging greater use they ought to look at gate/entrance/ escape routes so it will strengthen the bussiness case for an improvement there.

The increased length of platforms is in preparation for further reduction in trains in 2012 when the Thameslink project will temporarily reduce the number of platforms available at London Bridge station.

The South London RUS recommended extending platforms on our line to 12 carriage trains (for the current 8 carriages). Network Rail/DfT decided to only extend the platforms to 10 carriages (unless the planning application says differently).

When we lose more trains in 2012 without the recommended lengthening of platforms we are likely to suffer from additional overcrowding, although the extent of this will depend on how many trains we will lose. It is difficult to imagine Southern running less than the 4 trains per hour that they current run in the evening peak, so it is probably the morning that will be impacted. Let's hope we don't have less than 4 tph, whatever length they are.

I've not seen the letter but we discussed how they previously refused to open it for a crowd until a woman at the front waved her crutch at the CCTV camera! It seems that the gate is open alot more often now...

I've not seen the letter but we discussed how they previously refused to open it for a crowd until a woman at the front waved her crutch at the CCTV camera! It seems that the gate is open alot more often now...

I also read that the CONDEM gov had been pooh poohing longer trains and I would not hold out hope that this will happen. I am loving the orange line and going on it to Croydon but does sit outside W Croydon for 5 minutes and now all trains even Southern stop at Penge and Anerley journey times longer all round.

That's bad. When British Rail had "passengers" rather than "customers" it was a matter of policy not to cancel the last train anywhere. If there were operating difficulties you cut the penultimate one so that people might have had to wait but were not left stranded.

I got stuck last night too, thanks to ELL last train debacle. Tamsin, tube lines still seem to have a sensible policy like that _ in years of using last tubes I never had one cancelled. Just another way in which they seem to have an official Half Arsed policy for Overground services. Maddening.

Actually most cyclists are middle and upper middle class, daaahling. Peasants drive souped up hatchbacks, or ride the bus/train wearing sweat pants playing music from their mobiles whilst munching fried chicken....

And not all of us work in places with bike holding facilities. Leave a bike chained up on the street in East London for a ten-hour shift and it is nicked or carted off for being illegally parked. I don't think you can blame people for being upset if an advertised train timetable for which they have bought a ticket does not run, Hugh!

I love cycling to work but I agree that it's ridiculous that the ELL, the supposed solution to our "isolation", is already not operating properly...

Having a bike crash isn't all that bad. Got a couple of battle scars but I'm about to get a several thousand pound payout from the idiot car driver's insurance company. they've already bought me a new bike and kit.

Hold on a minute - the platforms can take 8 carriages already yet many evening trains (including Saturdays) are only four carriages long and they are PACKED even from London Bridge (Charing Cross in the good old days before the service was axed). Adequate platform length doesn't equal adequate train capacity.

Why can't Southern be a bit more like Southeastern and have massive long trains all day long for God's sake?

Now tonight the Tfl journey planner is saying last southbound train from Shadwell to Brockley is 11.10pm! This is half an hour earlier than it was meant to be, and no explanation. They are having a laugh now.

Just as I suspected.... ELL not all it was spin doctored up to be. Bring back our bladdy regular off peak trains to Charing X, expecially now that the high speed Kent link has been cut back. They're having a laarf.

HH, new systems take a while to bed in. And Southern? Reliable service is it? by your own admission you hardly use the trains, the ELL is a great addition. Going back to the old southern service only would be a massive retrograde step. Obvious to most people

I've written to London Overground asking what is going on with the late-night services, and logging the string of unexplained cancellations and early terminations. So we shall see what they say! In meantime even though I work round the corner from ELL in Wapping, it's back to trekking to London Bridge for the train. Longer trip but far more reliable.